BOS announces recycling bins, new S.W.A.T.

EAST LONGMEADOW The Board of Selectmen announced last week that it is seeking members for the town's Solid Waste Advisory Team, (S.W.A.T.). The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to extend the S.W.A.T. for one year during its regularly scheduled meeting on June 21.

The S.W.A.T. is a citizen's advisory panel that studies the town's trash and recycling programs. The town will begin collection from a new vendor, Central Mass Disposal, Inc. on July 5. The S.W.A.T. will monitor the new program and make recommendations about it to the Board of Selectmen.

Citizens who wish to participate are asked to send a letter of interest and a resume to the Board of Selectmen by July 8. Citizens are asked to address them to: Nick Breault, Executive Secretary to the Board of Selectmen, 60 Center Square, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. No telephone inquiries.

The Board of Selectmen also announced that recycling bins will be available to the public on June 27 beginning at 10 a.m. The bins will be available in Town Hall through the Board of Selectmen's office.

The town currently has a limited number of bins available. Bins will be distributed one per household until supplies run out. The town has a large shipment of bins due early July. Distribution of those bins will be announced when they arrive.

Residents are reminded that recycling materials may be placed in containers other than the blue bins. The town will also distribute stickers with the word "Recycle" on them to be fixed onto those alternate containers.

The town's new trash hauler will pick up recycling every week, with paper picked up one week and bottles and cans the next. The first week of the program will be a paper recycling week.

Residents will be mailed a flyer with a recycling calendar and other information before the end of this month. The flyer can also be viewed online on the town's web site on the Board of Selectmen's news releases page at: www.eastlongmeadow.org/selectmen/release%20050622%20Trash%20Flyer.htm.

The town will activate an information telephone line beginning June 27. Residents may call 525-5400, extension 106 for information regarding the new waste reduction program.